Theme

Narrative

What are the dominant and overlooked stories of philanthropy? Look beyond simple stories and grapple with complexity.

It is impossible to talk about the single story without talking about power. There is a word, an Igbo word, that I think about whenever I think about the power structures of the world and it is ‘nkali.’ It’s a noun that loosely translates to ‘to be greater than another’…

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nigerian Author of Postcolonial Feminist Literature

Posts from Narrative

A photograph of a stack of booklets, with the title showing "We are story", and a wrapper with text: "Purposephil concept books collection"

Theme: Narrative Type: Introductory

Introduction To Narrative Stories

PurposePhil is a systems change approach to reimagining philanthropy. Here we talk about why story and narrative are at the heart of deep change.

A photograph of a woman holds up cards in front of a group

Theme: Narrative Type: Core concepts

Philanthropy is a System

We can use systems thinking to sense philanthropy's potential for social impact, as well as how it might be part of conditions that hold wicked social and environmental problems in place.

Photograph of a poster with a grey triangle. On top there is text "Values, Beliefs & Logics", in the middle "Roles, Relationships & Power Dynamics", at the bottom "Practices, Policies & Resource flows"

Theme: Narrative Type: Core concepts

Philanthropy is a Complex System

Philanthropy is a complex system, shaped by human values, beliefs, relationships, and power dynamics. Get a handle on what makes a system complex.

Photograph of two people facing a wall, placing interconnected string onto a board

Theme: Narrative Type: Core concepts

Navigating Complexity

Grapple with the challenge of influencing a complex system. Appreciate how experimentation, emergence, and creativity can serve better than subject expertise and rationality.

A group of people surround an outdoor fire-pit as some roast marshmallows

Theme: Narrative Type: Core concepts

Narrative & Story as a Levers for Systems Change

Understand the power of story & narrative in conveying ideas about causation, possibility, beliefs, and values -- which can be used intentionally to drive change.

These days, Kettering Foundation is a convener of people around shared questions about citizen led democracies.

Theme: Narrative Type: Case study

From Technological Innovation to "the Democratic Urge"

From technological innovation to how citizens and political systems can work together to drive change: Learn from Kettering Foundation's big narrative pivot.

A racially diverse group of primary school aged children on stage, singing into microphones, with flag stands in the background.

Theme: Narrative Type: Case study

Healing Work Before Systems Change

W.K. Kellogg Foundation added a racial analysis to its mission, reflecting a more explicit narrative about root causes and their role in addressing them.

Black and white image of smoke stacks on the horizon

Theme: Narrative Type: Case study

From Ecological to Equity Frame

Chorus Foundation learned how social processes determine the equity of sustainable economies so they re-articulated their purpose as "just transitions."

The Narrative stories podcast

Vancouver Foundation models the art of critical self-examination in our inaugural PurposePhil episode, recorded back in 2021. Four leaders, including VF’s first Indigenous board member, get candid about why values and stories are at the heart of deep change.

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Theme

Narrative

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nigerian Author of Postcolonial Feminist Literature

Posts from Narrative

The Narrative stories podcast

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